Parker confident Scots will see Irish again

MATTY Parker has tipped Scotland to set up a World Cricket League final showdown with Ireland, by beating Afghanistan in Rotterdam today.

Both teams have lost to the Irish and won their remaining three games and Parker believes Scotland hold the psychological edge after beating the Afghans for the first time in a warm-up game last week.

The Forfarshire all-rounder, whose best ODI bowling figures helped beat Kenya on Wednesday, declared: "It will be a tough game and we will have to be at our best to beat them.

"They were missing two of their best bowlers in last week's win but I think we can go in with confidence. We are determined to get through to face Ireland and give ourselves a chance of revenge."

Coach Pete Steindl has warned his players to step up their game or risk being consigned to the 3rd/4th play-off against the Netherlands.

Steindl watched with mounting concern as Kenya's last-wicket pair came within seven runs of victory after the Scots had been cruising.

He said: "We almost let them off the hook and I was pretty hard on the boys after the game. Fair enough - we got over the finishing line which was the most important thing but we know we need to improve in certain areas.

"We got into a rut with the bat in the middle overs and we've got to develop ways of rotating the strike a little bit more often. With the ball we need to keep our composure and target the stumps more than we did in the last few overs against Kenya. We'll string it all together one day."

Steindl also revealed that as many as four counties are tracking in-from Greenock all-rounder Richie Berrington.

Berrington has already hit seven half-centuries and one century for the Saltires this season and Steindl knows the 24 year-old will be heading south sooner rather than later. He said: "Several counties are interested in Richie and it's no surprise given the talent he has. Sussex have watched him but they are one of about four who have made their interest known to us."

Meanwhile, Parker was delighted to keep up with room-mate Neil McCallum by winning his first man-of-the-match award.

The 20 year-old added: "Neil got his for his batting against Canada and the trophy has been sitting on the desk in our room since Saturday. Now I've got one to put alongside and I'm delighted to be playing my part for the team."

Four of the squad in the Netherlands will travel straight to next week's European Championships in Jersey. The Scots, Irish and Dutch are fielding second elevens in the event which also features Denmark, Italy and Jersey.

But Scotland's side will be bolstered by Ollie Hairs, Moneeb Iqbal, Ewan Chalmers and Zeeshan Bashir who may all face Afghanistan today.

Scotland A Squad: Q Sheikh capt, Z Bashir (both Clydesdale), T Buchan (Aberdeenshire), E Chalmers, S Chalmers, R Flannigan (all Watsonians), O Hairs (Grange), M Iqbal (McCrea FS West), M Petrie (Arbroath), W Rowan (Greenock), J Stander (Stoneywood-Dyce), S Weeraratna (Heriot's).z